Bracket type support for clothes hangers



Nov. 21, 1950 c. J. PATT BRACKET TYPE SUPPORT FOR CLOTHES HANGERS Filed Dec. 17, 1945 INVENTOR. CozzradJPaifi" 33/ WW fiatenteci Nov. 21 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRACKET TYPE SUPPORT FOR CLOTHES HANGERS 1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to bracket type supports for clothes hangers. More particularly the invention relates to that type of support which is designed to be applied to a closet or other door and as its components or parts comprises: (1) an inverted U-shaped bracket which is shaped and adapted to straddle the upper margin of the door to which the support is applied; and (2) a substantially horizontal arm which is connected to, and projects outwards from, one of the side pieces of the bracket and is adapted to have mounted thereon the hooks of the clothes hangers that are to be supported or carried by the support.

One object of the invention is to provide a support of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain advantages over, previously designed supports of the same general character and is characterized by the fact that it is extremely simple in design and construction and effectively and efiicientl fulfills its intended purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support of the aforementioned type in which the arm is formed of comparatively heavy wire of circular cross section and consists of vertically aligned and spaced apart upper and lower parts, the outer ends of which are joined together by a connecting loop and the inner ends of which are shaped to form hooks which are connected in a novel manner to the adjacent side piece of the inverted U-shaped bracket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support which is generally of new and improved construction and is capable of being produced at a low and reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present bracket type support for clothes hangers will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined b the claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in hich like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective of a support embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a side view showing the support in its operative position on the upper margin of a door and illustrating in detail the manner in which the clamp screw serves releasably and fixedly to secure the bracket in place.

The bracket type support which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to be applied to the upper margin of a closet or other door, as shown in Figure 2, and serves when in its operative position as a medium for supporting a rectilinear series of conventional hook equipped clothes hangers. As its components the support comprises an inverted U-shaped bracket 3, a clamp screw 4 and an arm 5.

The bracket 3 of the support is preferably in the form of a one-piece sheet metal stamping, consists of a rectangular horizontally extending top piece 6 and a pair of depending, spaced apart side pieces I and 8, and is adapted to straddle the upper margin of the door to which the support is applied. The top piece 6 of the bracket is fiat and when the bracket is in place extends lengthwise of, and fits flatly against, the top edge of the door. The depending side piece 1 extends at right angles to the top piece 6 and has the upper margin thereof joined to, and formed integrally with, the adjacent side margin of the top piece. Preferably the side piece I is downwardly elongated. It is fiat and, as shown in Figure 2, is adapted to fit flatly against the adjacent side face of the door to which the support is applied. The upper central portion of the side piece 1 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, vertically extending slits 9 and the lower central portion of the side piece I is provided with a pair of vertically spaced, parallel, horizontally extending slits 10. The portion of the side piece 7 that is disposed between the slits 9 is struck outwards in order to form a horizontal open ended eye H. The portion of the side piece 1 that is disposed between the horizontally extending slits ID in the lower central portion of the side piece 1 is struck or deformed outwards in order to form a vertically extending open ended eye 12. The two eyes II and I2 are disposed in vertical alignment and, as hereinafter described, serve as attaching or anchoring means for the arm 5 of the support. The other side piece of the inverted U-shaped bracket 3, i. e., the side piece 8, is disposed in parallel relation with the side piece 1 and has the upper margin thereof joined to, and formed integrall with the adjacent side margin of the top piece 6. It is of materially less height than the side piece I and has in the central portion thereof a circular hole 13. The width of the top piece 6 of the inverted U-shaped bracket 3 is preferably such that the bracket is capable of straddling doors that vary materially in thickness. An internally threaded washer I4 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the inner face of the side piece 8 and is arranged so that the opening therein is in registry with the hole l3.

The clamp screw 4 serves as a medium or instrumentality for releasably securing the inverted U-shaped bracket 3 in its operative position, It extends at right angles. to the side piece 8 of the bracket and consists of an externally threaded shank 15, an enlarged knurled head It on the outer end of the shank, and a rotatable clamp pad [1 on the inner end of the shank. The shank,

I of the clamp screw extends through the circular hole [3 in the side piece 8 and in addition extends through and is in screw threaded engagement with the internally threaded central opening in the washer Hi. When the clamp screw is turned in one direction it feeds towards the piece 'I' and brin s the clamp pad I] into clamp relation with the upper margin of the door to which the support is supplied. Reverse rotation of the screw causes outward feed of the screw into a position wherein the support is released so that it may be removed from the door hy shifting it upwards out of straddled relation with the upper marginal portion of the door. The enlarged knurled head It is fixedly secured tethe shank and permits the clamp screw to be gripped in connection with turning thereof. The clamp pad I! is rotatably connected to the iner end of the externally threaded shank I5 by a ball and socket joint [8 of conventional design or construction. In applying the support to the upper margin of a door the clamp screw 4 is fed outwards by reversely turning it. Thereafter the bracket 3 is positioned over the upper margin f; the door and is then shifted downwards so as to bring the top piece 6 into engagement with the top edge of the door and the side pieces 1 and 8 1. 20. straddled relation with the upper margin of the door. ter so manipulating the bracket 3 the clamp screw 4 is turned so as to feed it towards the side piece I. In connection with forward feed of the clamp screw the clamp pad 1! is first brought into engagement with the adjacent side face of the door and thereafter the bracket is shifted laterally until the side piece 1 is in clamped relation with the other side face of the door. When the clamp screw is tightened to its fullest extent the bracket 3 is secured in fixed or rigid relation with the upper margin of thedoor. If; desired the-exposed portion of the shank l5 of the clamp screw may be used to support one or more garment hangers by hooking the hooks of the hangers therearound.

The arm 5 is located in front of, and extends at right angles to, the side piece I of the inverted u-shaped bracket 3 and is formed of comparatively heavy wire of circular cross section. It serves as the main instrumentality for supporting the clothes hangers with respect to the support and comprises an elongated horizontal lower part I9 and an elongated upper part 20. The lower part I 9 is adapted to have the hooks of the hangers hooked therearound and operates when use to hold the hangers so that they are in the form of a horizontal rectilinear series. The inner end of the lower part is bent downwards at right angles to form a depending hook 2| which, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, fits within the vertically extending open ended eye #2; on the lower central portion of the bracket sidepiece l. The length of the depending hook 2| is slightly greater than the eye [2 in order that the hook extends completely through the eye. The portion of the lower part IQ of the arm 5 that is adjacent the hook forming bend is adapted to rest on the upper end of the eye [2 and serves to limit downward displacement of the lower part I 9 with respect to said eye. The outer end of the lower part [9 is connected to the upper part 20 of; the arm. 5 by: a loop; 22, Said upper part of the arm is diposed in vertical alignment with the lower part l9 and is upwardly and inwardly inclined as shown in the drawing. The inner end of the upper part 26 is bent so as to form a loop 23 and a horizontal hook 24. The hook 24 fits within the horizontal open ended eye. H on the upper central portion of the bracket side piece 1 and serves to anchor or connect the inner end of the upper part 20 of the arm 5 to the bracket 3. 24 is greater than that of the eye H in order that the hook when. in place extends completely through the eye, as best shown in Figure 1. The hook 24 by reason of the fact that it extends horizontally and its in the eye ll holds the arm 5 lateral displacement or swinging movement with respect to the bracket 3. The upper part 20 of the arm constitutes a diagonal brace for supporting the lower part [9 against downward deflection relatively to the bracket 3. In connecting the arm 5 to the bracket 3 the hook 23 isfirstaligned with the eye H. Thereafter the arm is shifted laterally in order to bring said hook into place within the-eye H. After introducing the hook 24 into the eye. II the inner end of the lower part [9 of the arms is flexed upwards, and is then manipulated so as to align the depending hook 2| with the vertically extending eye |2. After so manipulating the lower arm the latter is releasedin order that it returns to its normal position and causes insertion of the hook 2|. into the eye [2. In the event that it is desired to remove the arm 5 from the bracket 3 the hook 2| is first removed from the eye l2 by flexing upwards the inner end of the lower part L9 of the arm. Thereafter the arm is shifted laterally so as to withdraw the hook 24 from the eye II.

The herein described clothes hanger support is essentially simple in design and. hence may be produced at a low and reasonablecost. It is capable of being readily applied to doors that vary in thickness and. after. alplication to a door is in fixed or rigid relation upon tightening of the clamp screw 4.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

As a new article-of manufacture, a bracket type support adapted to be applied to a door or the like and to carry hook equipped clothes hangers and comprising an inverted U-shaped bracket embodying spaced apart side pieces depending from the side margins of a top-piece, shaped to straddle the upper margin of the door, formed of a one-piece sheet metal, stamping and having fcrmed: on the upper portion. of one of its side pieces an integral out-struck. horizontally extending-open endedeyeand on. the lower portion of the, one side piece an. integral out-struck verticallyextending open. ended eye in substantially The length of the hook Vertical alignment with the horizontally extending eye, and a one-piece arm formed of heavy wire, extending outwards from said one side piece of the bracket, adapted to have applied thereto the hooks of the clothes hangers to be carried by the support, and consisting of vertically aligned and spaced apart upper and lower parts, the lower part of the arm extending horizontally and having the inner end thereof bent downwards at right angles to form a depending hook fitting within the vertically extending eye, the upper part extending upwards and inwards from the outer end of the lower part and having its inner end bent laterally back and forth to form a horizontal 180 loop and in addition a horizontal hook connected to the outer end of 6 the loop and fitting within said horizontally extending eye.

CONRAD J. PA'IT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 Number Name Date 1,518,054 Dzurak Dec. 2, 1924 1,821,722 Neal Sept. 1, 1931 2,070,408 Leidgen Feb. 9, 1937 2,085,206 Holmdahl June 29, 1937 15 2,231,128 Krantz Feb. 11, 1941 2,291,178 Vanderwerp et al. July 28, 1942 

